How can one rapidly eliminate a facial pimple?

Applying cold or heat can temporarily relieve discomfort, and reduce inflammation and swelling. However, this will have no effect on the pimple itself.

• Ice: Wrap an ice cube in a cloth and hold it against the pimple for 5 to 10 minutes, several times a day.

• Warm compress: Soak a clean compress in hot water and apply it to the acne lesion for 10 to 15 minutes. Repeat the procedure 3 to 4 times a day.

Transparent and relatively thin, hydrocolloid acne patches (a class of long-chain polymer gels), such as carboxymethylcellulose, gelatin, or pectin, can be an effective solution for pimples. They help accelerate healing by creating a moist environment. Likewise, they work by drawing out all of the pimple’s fluid, which can help to make it appear less swollen and slightly smaller. Acne patches also prevent you from picking at the pimple, in addition to concealing the blemish and protecting it from infection.

Hydrocolloid patches are not effective on all types of pimples. They are especially effective on raised pimples (excluding closed comedones and cysts) or those with visible pus.

While they can generally be worn overnight or for up to 24 hours, they won’t make a pimple disappear overnight. Current studies indicate that you need to use them for several days (around six days) before seeing results. However, hydrocolloid patches are not the most effective treatment for acne pimples, as they do not kill bacteria. In addition, if you use a patch, avoid applying topical acne treatments under the dressing, because not only does this reduce its adhesion, but it can also cause irritation in some cases.

While hydrocolloid gel patches typically contain no active ingredients, others may already include them (niacinamide, salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, etc.). They are specifically added to combat pimples by helping reduce inflammation. More recently, another type of pimple patch has emerged: microneedle patches fitted with multiple fine, microscopic needles that improve the diffusion of active ingredients into skin cells.

After gently washing your skin and applying an ice cube or warm compress to the pimple for a few minutes, you can proceed with an over-the-counter spot treatment, which typically contains either 2.5% benzoyl peroxide or 2% salicylic acid, to dry out the pimple. By following these steps before bed, the pimple may look better the next morning.

• Benzoyl peroxide: Whether in cream, gel, or patch form, benzoyl peroxide is a common anti-acne ingredient that has been used for many years. It works primarily by killing the bacteria responsible for acne, as well as unclogging pores of accumulated dead skin cells. Over-the-counter benzoyl peroxide products are available in concentrations ranging from 2.5% to 10%. However, it can have a drying and irritating effect on the skin. Therefore, start with a lower concentration, especially if you have sensitive skin, and gradually increase the dosage if you do not see results.

  In a study (n = 153), the effects of benzoyl peroxide gels at varying concentrations (2.5%, 5%, and 10%) were compared. After two weeks of topical application, they found that the 2.5% formulation was equivalent to the higher concentrations in reducing inflammatory lesions, with fewer adverse effects.

• Salicylic acid: Present in a number of over-the-counter products, another common ingredient is salicylic acid. Lipid-soluble, this β-hydroxy acid (BHA) is known for its keratolytic effect that promotes the shedding of dead skin cells from clogged pores, its mild anti-inflammatory action to reduce redness and swelling, its sebum-regulating properties to decrease oil production, and its bacteriostatic effect to slow the growth and proliferation of bacteria such as Cutibacterium acnes, the microorganism responsible for inflammatory acne reactions. Only preparations containing 0.5 to 2% salicylic acid are recommended.

Seen more as a temporary solution than a long-term one, 1% topical hydrocortisone cream, a synthetic form of the hormone cortisol, can help with acne breakouts to some extent by improving the appearance of inflammatory lesions. Indeed, it helps calm the inflammation associated with pimples and reduce their swollen appearance.

With the adverse effects often associated with traditional treatments (irritation, skin dryness, burning sensations, etc.), some individuals choose to try "natural" alternatives to quickly eliminate a pimple. Additionally, botanical therapies may offer the added advantage of multiple modes of action, owing to their biochemical composition of diverse bioactive compounds. However, although many options exist, only a few are "scientifically proven," such as tea tree essential oil—one of the most popular alternative remedies, despite limited research on its efficacy against acne.

In addition to tea tree essential oil, the green tea extract, Copaiba essential oil, and clove essential oil have also demonstrated their ability to reduce blemishes.

Extracted from the leaves of the Australian native tree Melaleuca alternifolia, the tea tree essential oil (INCI: Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil) has demonstrated certain anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activity. Studies have shown that a small amount of diluted tea tree essential oil can reduce the number of blemishes in patients with mild to moderate acne.

For example, a single-blind randomized clinical trial of 124 patients conducted by BARNETSON R. S. and colleagues revealed that 5% tea tree essential oil in a water-based gel was as effective in reducing inflammatory and non-inflammatory lesions as a 5% benzoyl peroxide lotion, although the tea tree essential oil did not act as rapidly as benzoyl peroxide.

In another study, a gel containing 5% tea tree oil was nearly four times more effective at reducing inflammatory and non-inflammatory acne lesions and almost six times more effective at lowering acne severity compared to a placebo, i.e., the vehicle gel alone. Although tea tree essential oil doesn’t make a pimple disappear in one day, it appears effective at diminishing an acne lesion while causing fewer adverse effects.

Despite its proven efficacy, the European Commission does not regulate claims regarding tea tree essential oil’s effects on pimples. Therefore, caution is advised when using it, and a skin patch test should always be performed before application.

How to use tea tree essential oil to treat a pimple?

Highly concentrated, it is important to note that tea tree essential oil should never be applied undiluted to the skin. Therefore, be sure to dilute one drop of tea tree essential oil in a teaspoon of vegetable oil before applying it directly to the blemish with a cotton swab once or twice daily.

In the case of a particularly stubborn pimple (inflammatory acne nodules), the fastest and most effective way to get rid of it is to receive a cortisone injection (triamcinolone acetonide at a concentration of 2.5 mg/mL) by a dermatologist directly into the pimple. Administered with a syringe fitted with a very fine needle, the cortisone injection contains a steroid that reduces the swollen tissue of the pimple and relieves inflammation, allowing it to heal. You will notice a visible improvement within 24 hours. However, steroid injections are typically reserved for the most severe types of acne and should not be the first-line treatment for inflammatory acne. In addition, this therapy can potentially lead to localized skin atrophy.

As an external therapy, cryotherapy is a minimally invasive treatment in which a very low-temperature substance (cryogen), such as liquid nitrogen, argon gas, carbon dioxide, or liquid nitrous oxide, is applied to the tissue via a spray device or a cotton swab. Already used to treat various skin conditions (warts, etc.), this therapy is also considered effective for treating acne lesions, as supported by several clinical studies. Cystic acne lesions reportedly almost invariably disappear after a few cryotherapy sessions. According to some studies, exposure to extreme cold may reduce the appearance of a lesion by producing damage to the lesion wall, which promotes immune cell infiltration, blocks sebum production, and induces the release of fewer pro-inflammatory molecules.

Cryotherapy is not effective against comedonal acne. In particular, it has long been used to treat nodulocystic and keloid lesions.